Quake ratings urged for buildings

People entering buildings in Christchurch could soon know at a glance its seismic strength.

Christchurch City councillors have instructed council staff to investigate options for a publicly displayed rating system for buildings based on how they shape up against the current Building Code.

Cr Aaron Keown is driving the initiative, which he says will give people greater confidence in the buildings they are using because they will be able to see, at a glance, how old it is and what sort of condition it is in.

"We do it for food; now it is time to do it for buildings,'' Keown told councillors at their meeting this week.

Such rating systems were used in some countries overseas but Christchurch had the opportunity to develop its own world-class system.

Cr Barry Corbett said a publicly displaying rating system for buildings was a good idea.

"We have safety thinks on cars; we don't have them on buildings. We have energy-wise stickers on fridges; we don't have them on buildings,'' Corbett pointed out.

Cr Tim Carter said Japan used a seismic rating system for its buildings and it made perfect sense for Christchurch to do the same..